WSP05423

• File Number: 8220.105
• Description: Colorado River-Water Projects-Navajo
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 6/11/2003
• Title: Navajo Dam Operation Coordination Meetings-San Juan Irrigators Agree to Cut Use
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: News Article/Press Release

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A number of irrigation districts and community ditches that draw water
from the river have also agreed to either reduce the amount of water they
draw from the river or shorten their irrigation seasons in response to
conditions, Whipple said.

Two power plants on the river have agreed to reduce their water
consumption but are working to secure more water from the Jicarilla
Apache Tribe, Whipple said.

The San Juan Generating Station has agreed to reduce its water
consumption by 5 percent, from 24,200 acre-feet to 22,990, Whipple said.

The Four Corners Generating Station has agreed to reduce its use from
31,000 acre-feet to 29,450, he said.

The power plants are working to secure rights to up to 16,000 acre-feet of
water from the Jicarilla Tribe, but won't take delivery of the water unless
they need it, Whipple said.

The city of Farmington has agreed to limit its use of water to 15,000 acre-
feet this year. If the city needs more, it can draw water from lake storage,
Whipple said.x

"It's something that the water users got together and developed, as a way
to try to get through a dry period without having a lot oflitigation,"
Whipple said of the agreement.

Without the agreement in place, Whipple said it might have been
necessary for the state to take over administration of water delivery and
diversions from the river.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Mexico Department of
Game and Fish were kept infonned about the agreement, Whipple said.
The federal agency has responsibility for making sure there's enough
water in the river to sustain endangered-fish species downstream.

The San Juan Fly Fishing Federation secured a court order barring the
Bureau of Reclamation from reducing flows on the river below 500 cfs
until the agency completes an environmental study of river operations.

Whipple said the agreement calling for releasing 450 cfs has been
discussed with the federation and said the federation didn't object to it.

Weather conditions and next winter's snowpack will detennine whether
any similar agreement must be worked out for next year, Whipple said.

"I support the efforts of water users to work toward cooperative solutions
to local or regional problems," said New Mexico State Engineer John
D'Antonio, whose office oversees water rights. "These solutions are
preferable to state- or court-imposed actions."

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http://www .santafenewmexican.comJmain.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=7 &ArticleID... 6/12/2003